1. Import and Open Your Photo:
* Open the Lightroom Mobile app.
* Import the photo you want to edit. You can do this by tapping the "+" icon in the bottom right corner and selecting "From Camera Roll" or "From Files."
2. Access the Color Panel:
* Once your photo is open, tap on the "Color" icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a color wheel).
3. Find the Grading Tool (Split Toning):
* In the Color panel, you might see the "Color Mix" tool. You're looking for the "Grading" tool. If you don't see it right away, scroll through the options along the bottom. In older versions of Lightroom Mobile, it might still be called "Split Toning."
4. Understand the Interface:
The Grading tool is usually presented as three color wheels:
* Shadows: Controls the color tint applied to the darker areas of your photo.
* Midtones: Controls the color tint applied to the mid-tones (the areas that are neither dark nor bright).
* Highlights: Controls the color tint applied to the brighter areas of your photo.
There's also a "Blending" slider and a "Balance" slider. These are crucial for fine-tuning the effect:
* Blending: Determines how smoothly the colors transition between the shadows and highlights. Higher blending creates a smoother transition.
* Balance: Controls the priority given to the shadows or highlights in the overall color grading. Moving the slider towards the left prioritizes the shadows, moving it towards the right prioritizes the highlights. A value of 0 gives equal priority to both.
5. Choose Your Colors:
* Select a color wheel (Shadows, Midtones, or Highlights).
* Tap and drag within the color wheel to select a hue (color). You'll see the photo change as you drag. Experiment to find a color you like for that tonal range.
* Adjust the saturation by dragging your finger towards the outer edge of the wheel (more saturated) or towards the center (less saturated). Lower saturation can often look more natural.
6. Start with Shadows and Highlights:
* A classic split-tone look involves contrasting colors in the shadows and highlights. For example:
* Shadows: Try a cool blue or green hue with low to moderate saturation.
* Highlights: Try a warm orange or yellow hue with low to moderate saturation.
7. Adjust Blending and Balance:
* Blending: Start with a moderate value (around 50-70) and then adjust it based on how you want the colors to transition. For a softer, more subtle look, increase the blending. For a more pronounced split, decrease it.
* Balance: Adjust the balance to shift the emphasis towards the shadows or highlights, depending on your desired effect.
8. Experiment with the Midtones:
* Often, the midtones are best left alone (no color added). However, you can subtly tint the midtones to further refine the look.
* If you choose to tint the midtones, use a very low saturation to keep it subtle.
9. Fine-Tune and Refine:
* Go back and adjust the hue and saturation of the shadows and highlights until you achieve the desired effect.
* Pay close attention to how the colors interact with the existing colors in your photo.
10. Other Considerations:
* Start with a Good Base: Make sure you've already adjusted the basic exposure, contrast, and white balance of your photo before applying split toning.
* Subtlety is Key: Often, the best split-tone effects are subtle and enhance the existing mood of the photo, rather than overpowering it.
* Consider the Subject: Think about the subject of your photo and the emotions you want to evoke. Cooler colors can create a sense of calm or mystery, while warmer colors can create a sense of energy or happiness.
* Use Presets as a Starting Point: Explore the Lightroom Mobile presets. Some of them may already have a split-tone effect that you can then customize. This can be a great way to learn how different color combinations work.
Example Combinations:
* Blue Shadows / Orange Highlights: A classic and versatile combination.
* Green Shadows / Pink Highlights: Can create a dreamy or vintage look.
* Purple Shadows / Yellow Highlights: A more dramatic and vibrant combination.
* Teal Shadows / Warm Brown Highlights: Adds a vintage or film-like feel.
Key Tips for Success:
* Use low saturation: Unless you're going for a very stylized or artificial look, keep the saturation levels relatively low.
* Pay attention to blending and balance: These sliders are essential for fine-tuning the effect and creating a smooth, natural-looking transition.
* Experiment and have fun! There are no hard and fast rules. Try different color combinations and see what works best for your photos.
By following these steps and experimenting with different settings, you can create a variety of beautiful and unique split-tone effects in Lightroom Mobile. Good luck!